NL2002522C2

NL2002522C2 - Optical fibre cable management in connection housing.

Info

Publication number: NL2002522C2
Application number: NL2002522A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Antonie Hoog
Original assignee: Attema Kunststoffenind
Priority date: 2009-02-13
Filing date: 2009-02-13
Publication date: 2010-08-16

Description

P29739NL00/ME

OPTICAL FIBER CABLE MANAGEMENT IN CONNECTION HOUSING FIELD OF THE INVENTION

5 The invention relates to the field of housings for storing connections between optical fibers, and more specifically to managing the arrangement of incoming and outgoing cables to and from such a housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

10

With its superior data transmission capabilities, optical fibers are increasingly used in data networks to provide high bandwidth, high reliability, low interference data communication. Nowadays, it is quite common to connect not only businesses but also private homes to data switching stations through optical fibers. In these applications, but also 15 generally in optical fiber network installation, extension and maintenance, specific individual optical fibers of optical fiber cables containing many optical fibers must be connected to specific individual optical fibers of different other optical fiber cables. Such fiber connections, also referred to as splices, are made in a manner known per se, and stored in a housing designed for the purpose. In some circumstances, some of the optical fibers in an optical fiber 20 cable are cut, whereas other ones of the optical fibers remain uncut, and merely a specific spare length of these uncut optical fibers is stored in the housing. In the optical fiber cable, a so-called window cut may be made in a situation of storing both cut and uncut optical fibers in the housing.

In the housing, each splice and some spare length of the optical fibers at both sides of 25 the splice may be stored in a cassette or on a tray. The cassette or tray has retaining members to retain a protection member enclosing or packaging a splice. An example of a cassette, and cassette assemblies is disclosed in co-pending Dutch patent application 2001965 included herein by reference.

The person making the splices often is faced with a large amount of connections to be 30 made, usually in the order of one or more hundreds of splices per housing. By way of example, a distribution housing in which a large number of optical fibers, e.g. 96 optical fibers, contained in one or just a few optical fiber cables, may have to be connected to optical fibers of a large number of optical fiber cables, each cable containing a low number of optical fibers. In this and in other cases, the preparatory work and the actual splicing of the cables is very 35 time-consuming, and easily prone to errors. Errors may only be found later, when the housing -2- has already been mounted or buried under ground, and then necessitate extensive work to locate the error and to make the necessary changes and tests. Cables are fed into the housing in an unordered bundle, where individual cables are hard to identify and find. During repair, correction and maintenance, individual cables cannot easily be taken from, or added to 5 the bundle of cables.

Herein, a housing is defined as comprising a junction box, having an open top side to be able to access the inside of the junction box, and a cover to close the junction box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

10

It would be desirable to provide a housing for storing connections between optical fibers, the housing having provisions to prevent to a large extent any splicing errors. It would also be desirable to simplify the installation work to install, remove, replace or add a plurality of splices in a housing in which connections between optical fibers are stored.

15 To better address one or more of these concerns, in a first aspect of the invention a housing for storing connections between fibers contained in cables is provided, the housing being provided with a cable bushing mounting assembly with at least one slot formed by opposite side walls of two legs being spaced apart, the at least one slot having a slot bottom, being open at an end thereof facing away from the slot bottom, and being configured to 20 accommodate a plurality of cable bushing elements by stacking the cable bushing elements.

The one or more slots of the cable bushing mounting assembly, which may define a part of a side wall of the housing, are advantageously used to stack cable bushing elements, each cable bushing element accommodating one or more cables, in a predetermined ordered manner, enabling the cable mounting person to perform his or her work in an ordered, 25 planned and convenient way, and to avoid errors in the splicing of fibers.

The installation of a cable into, the removal of a cable from, the addition of a cable to, or the replacement of a cable in a slot will only affect, if at all, one or more of the other cables in the same slot, but will not affect the cables in any other slot. This greatly simplifies any work related to the fibers in the housing.

30 In another aspect of the present invention, a cable bushing mounting assembly for a housing of the kind described above is provided. The cable bushing mounting assembly may be manufactured as a separate item, and connected to a housing having appropriate provisions for such a connection.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a cable bushing element for a cable 35 bushing mounting assembly is provided, wherein the cable bushing element is elongated, wherein in the cable bushing element in its longitudinal direction at least one through channel is provided for substantially conformingly accommodating a cable, wherein the cable bushing -3- element has an upper wall, a lower wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, and wherein the upper wall and the lower wall, or parts thereof, run parallel to each other, and the first and second side walls comprise faces adapted to run parallel to the side walls of the slot in which the cable bushing element is to be placed. With such a cable bushing element placed in a slot 5 of the cable bushing mounting assembly, a sealing of the assembly can be reached preventing a fluid to reach the inside of the housing.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like 10 parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 a depicts a perspective view of a junction box as main part of an embodiment 15 of the housing according to the present invention, the junction box comprising a bottom and side walls, and illustrates feeding in a plurality of fiber optic cables into a slot of a cable bushing mounting assembly, using bushing elements.

Figure 1b depicts a perspective view of a cover as part of a housing, and belonging to the junction box of Figure 1 a.

20 Figure 2 depicts another perspective view of the junction box of Figure 1 a, and illustrating organizing a plurality of optical fibers of a plurality of outgoing fiber optic cables arranged in a slot of the cable bushing mounting assembly, before a splicing (connecting) operation of the optical fibers.

Figure 3 depicts a further perspective view of the junction box of Figure 1a, and further 25 illustrates organizing a plurality of optical fibers of the plurality of fiber optic cables arranged in a slot of the cable bushing mounting assembly as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 depicts still another perspective view of the junction box of Figure 1a, and illustrates organizing a plurality of optical fibers of an incoming fiber optic cable before a splicing operation of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cable.

30 Figure 5 depicts a still further perspective view of the junction box of Figure 1a, supplemented with a plurality of cassettes containing splices between optical fibers of incoming and outgoing fiber optic cables.

Figures 6a and 6b depict perspective views of an assembly of a bushing element and a fiber optic cable, in a pre-assembled state and in an assembled state, respectively.

35 Figures 6c, 6d and 6e depict a top view the assembly of a bushing element and a fiber optic cable of Figure 6b, mounted between legs of a cable bushing mounting assembly, in different longitudinal positions.

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Figure 6f depicts a perspective view of a stopper usable in conjunction with a bushing element.

Figures 7a and 7b depict an end view of a flexible and resilient bushing element in closed and open state, respectively.

5 Figures 7c and 7d depict end views of different bushing elements with hinged parts connected to one another through film hinges.

Figure 8 depicts an end view of stacks of different bushing elements between legs of a cable bushing mounting assembly.

Figure 9 depicts a top view of assemblies of different bushing elements and a cable 10 between legs of a cable bushing mounting assembly.

Figures 10a and 10b depict side views, partially in longitudinal cross-section, of stacks of assemblies of bushing elements and cables in a slot of a cable bushing mounting assembly.

15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1 a, 2, 3, 4 and 5 depict a fiber optic junction box 2 as part of a housing for storing connections between optical fibers. The junction box comprises a bottom 4 and a side wall 6, and a cable bushing mounting assembly 8. In the embodiment shown, the junction box 20 2 is of a generally rectangular design having rounded corners, but other designs may be applied as well.

The bottom 4 of the box comprises a fixed bottom part 4a and a movable bottom part 4b which is a cover for a box-like, otherwise closed compartment 5 provided below the bottom part 4b. The compartment 5 is shown in Figure 1a with de movable bottom part 4b removed, 25 and is indicated by dashed lines in Figure 2. The fixed bottom part 4a is provided with several support elements 10 and blind holes 12 for mounting e.g. cassettes or trays and auxiliary parts for arranging and storing splices of optical fibers. The movable bottom part 4b may be completely removable from the junction box 2, or may be e.g. hingedly connected to the junction box 2. The fixed bottom part 4a extends at two opposite sides of the movable bottom 30 part 4b, as can be seen e.g. in Figure 2. The fixed bottom part 4a extending at the side of the movable bottom part 4b facing the cable bushing mounting assembly 8 is provided with two channels 7 (only one of which is visible in Figure 2, and the other one is visible in Figure 4) extending near both ends of the cable bushing mounting assembly 8, and leading to the compartment 5. The movable bottom part 4b is provided with an L-shaped support 14 having 35 a slit 15 which can be used for attaching a Velcro™ tape, and a window 16, which provides a view of the possible contents of the compartment which the movable bottom part 4b covers. The window 16 may be open, or may be closed by a cover of transparent or non-transparent -5- material. The movable bottom part 4b further is provided with a fan-shaped guide assembly 18 having guide slots determined by plates 20 mounted on the movable bottom part. In the embodiment shown, nine plates 20 determine eight guide slots, but any other practical embodiment may be selected having at least two plates 20 defining one guide slot. In each 5 guide slot, two lock elements 22 extend, one from each plate 20 delimiting the guide slot, and at a top edge thereof. Each lock element 22 extending from a plate 20 at a free top edge thereof has a free end positioned at a distance from an opposing plate 20. The distance is large enough to allow one or more optical fibers, possible enclosed in a tube, to pass.

The junction box 2 is provided with a number of supports 30 having through holes to 10 allow the junction box 2 to be fixed to a cover part.

Figure 1b shows a cover part 70 of the junction box 2. The cover part 70 has a ribbed top side 72 and a side wall 74 with rounded corners. The side wall 74 is provided with two collars 76 extending at opposite ends of the cover part 70. The collars 76 are provided with holes 78 allowing the cover part 70 to be attached to a support.

15 The cover part 70 has an internal sealing surface 80 on which a sealing element 82 is to be placed. The sealing surface 80 is shaped to conform to the top edges of the side wall 6 and legs 40 (to be discussed below) of the junction box 2, to provide a sealing of the junction box 2 by the cover part 70. The junction box 2 can be fixed to the cover part 70 with screws (not shown) extending through the four holes of the supports 30 of the junction box 2 into four 20 corresponding holes 77 (two of which are not visible in Figure 1 b) of the cover part 70.

The cable bushing mounting assembly 8 comprises a plurality of legs 40. In the embodiment shown, the number of legs is nine, but in other embodiments, the number of legs may be at least two. The nine legs 40 in the embodiment shown determine eight slots 41-48 each having a closed bottom and an open top, and two opposing side walls each belonging to 25 different, adjacent or adjoining legs 40. As can be seen in particular in Figures 3 and 5, the slots 41 and 48 are deeper than the remaining slots 42-47.

Each slot 41-48 is adapted to accommodate a plurality of bushing elements 60, as shown in more detail in Figures 6a and 6b. The bushing element 60 has an elongated shape, and is provided with a central through channel 62 for accommodating a cable 64. A diameter 30 of the channel 62 is essentially the same as the diameter of the cable 64. The channel 62 may also have different diameters at different locations along its length. The bushing element 60 has a flat top wall 60a, a flat bottom wall 60b (not visible in Figures 6a, 6b), a folded side wall 60c, a folded side wall 60d (not visible in Figures 6a, 6b), a flat front wall 60e, and a flat rear wall 60f (not visible in Figures 6a, 6b). The side walls 60c and 60d are mirrored relative 35 to an imaginary mirror plane through the center of the bushing element 60. Two opposing ends 60g of each side wall 60c, 60d extend outwardly relative to a middle part of the side wall 60c, 60d. The channel 62 is open at the side of the top wall 60a of the bushing element 60 by -6- a central longitudinal cut 66 extending from the top wall 60a to the channel 62, the cut 66 dividing the top wall 60a into two top wall parts. The bushing element 60 is made from a flexible, resilient material, such as a rubber, so that a cable 64 can be placed into the channel 62 by opening the cut 66 by bending the two top wall parts apart, as illustrated in Figure 6a.

5 When the cable 64 has been placed in the channel 62, the cut 66 will essentially close again as a result of the flexible and resilient material of the bushing element 60, whereby the bushing element 60 encloses the cable 64 at a longitudinal position which can be chosen at will.

Returning to Figures 1a, 2-5, it can be seen that the legs 40 are shaped so as to 10 accommodate a stack of bushing elements 60 between two subsequent legs 40 of the series of legs 40, where each bushing element 60 encloses a fiber optic cable 64. More specifically, an edge of each leg facing the inside of the junction box 2, and an edge of each leg facing the outside of the junction box 2, are tapered. The top sides of the legs 40 are provide with threaded holes 50, possible provided with (e.g. metal, threaded) inserts. As illustrated e.g. in 15 Figure 1a, a cable 64 is provided with a bushing element 60, and can then be placed in any slot 41-48, in Figure 1a in slot 43. Different assemblies of bushing elements 60 and cables 64 can be stacked in one slot, such that a top wall 60a (or bottom wall 60b) of a first bushing element 60 abuts a bottom wall 60b (or top wall 60a) of a second bushing element 60. The side walls 60c, 60d of the bushing elements 60 abut the opposing side walls of different legs 20 40. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1a, 2-5, the slots 41 and 48 will accommodate a stack of seven bushing elements 60 at maximum, and any of the slots 42,43,44,45,46 and 47 will accommodate a stack of six bushing elements 60 at maximum. It will be evident that a depth of a slot between the legs will be designed in a predetermined way to accommodate a predetermined number (at least two) of bushing elements of a predetermined design.

25 In case a slot 41-48 would accommodate less than the maximum number of cables 64 and corresponding bushing elements 60, a filler element (not shown) may be used to fill the remaining part of the slot 41-48. Such a filler part does not have any channel 62 or cut 66, since it need not be adapted to accommodate a cable 64. Instead of using a filler element when a slot 41-48 accommodates less than the maximum number of cables 64, also the 30 maximum number of bushing elements 60 may be stacked in a slot 41-48, where one or more of the bushing elements 60 encloses a cable 64, and one or more of the remaining bushing elements 60 does not enclose a cable 64, and consequently presents an open channel 62. In such an open channel 62, a stopper 63 (see Figure 6f) may be placed having a body part 63a with essentially the same diameter as the cable 64, and a head part 63b with a larger 35 diameter. Accordingly, a combination of a bushing element 60 and a stopper 63 provides the same function as a filler element discussed above.

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When a slot 41-48 has been completely filled, either by a stack of bushing elements 60, one or more of which are provided with a cable 64 and the remaining one(s) of which are provided with a stopper 63, and no filler element, or by a combination of one or more bushing elements 60, one or more of which are provided with a cable 64 and the remaining one(s) of 5 which are provided with a stopper 63, and one or more filler elements, or by one or more filler elements without a bushing element 60, a closing plate 52 is mounted on the tops of two adjoining legs 40, e.g. by screws 54 (see Figures 1 a and 5) screwed into holes 50. The closing plate 52 covers a large part of a slot, owing to an elongated central part of the closing plate 52. For two subsequent slots, the respective central parts of the corresponding closing 10 plates 52 are directed in opposite directions. Thus, adjacent closing plates 52 each use one of the two holes 50 in a common leg, without the closing plates 52 overlapping each other.

The dimensions of the bushing elements 60 and possible filler elements may be chosen such that a compression of the flexible bushing element material results when the closing plate 52 is mounted. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the bushing elements 60 15 have such a height that a stack of bushing elements 60 will be slightly higher than the slot in which the bushing elements are arranged, in order to reach the envisaged effect of compression. The slot 41-48 will thus be sealed off for dirt or any fluid (liquid and/or gas) in the longitudinal direction of the cables 64, depending on the requirements, since the bushing elements 60 are pressed against the opposing side walls of different legs 40, and to the cable 20 40 in the channel 62 of the bushing element 60, or to the stopper 63 in the channel 62 of the bushing element 60.

Each separate location in a slot 41-48 for a bushing element 60 is clearly numbered, both at the outside of the junction box 2, as indicated at 49, and at the inside of the junction box 2, as indicated at 51. A numbering scheme of the cable bushing mounting assembly 8 25 which is used at the outside (49) as shown below.

48 [42 36 30 124 18 ΓΪ2 ΗΓ" ~47~" ~4Ϊ ~35~ ~29~~ ~23~ ΎΓ Τϊ ΊΓ~ ”46“ 40 ~34~ ~28~ ~22~ ~W 1Ö Ί- "45~~ 39 13“ ~ΤΓ ΤΠ l5~ ~9 I- "44“ 38 ~32~ ~26~ ~20~ IT" ~8 ~2~ ”43~~ 37 ΤΠ ~25~ ~W IT" ~Ί Ί -IN OUT-

Numbering scheme at 49 -8-

For the inside (51), essentially a mirror image of the above numbering scheme is used.

Generally, the cables 64 each contain one or more glass fibers enclosed by a tubular protective enclosure, which will be referred to as a tube for simplicity hereinafter. A tube may 5 contain one or more glass fibers, and a cable may contain one or more tubes. In the following, an installation and connection of cables will be described wherein an incoming cable has eight tubes, and each tube has twelve optical fibers. Thus, in total the incoming cable contains ninety-six optical fibers. Outgoing cables will be described having one tube, each tube containing two optical fibers.

10 As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the locations “IN”, OUT” and locations numbered 1-6 of the cable bushing mounting assembly 8, as illustrated in the above numbering scheme, each contain a bushing element 60 and a cable 64. The cable 64 at the location “IN” is an incoming cable (i.e. its optical fibers are connected to a source device). Some of the optical fibers contained in a tube 90 (see Figure 4) in the incoming cable 64 are guided through the 15 channel 7 immediately behind the location “IN” downward into the compartment 5, where a spare length of these optical fibers is stored. The tube 90 continues from the compartment 5 through the second channel 7 to a remaining part of the cable 64 at the location “OUT”. Thus, it may be understood that the cable 64 at the location “IN” in fact is the same cable 64 at the location “OUT”, and a window cut has been made therein to store a spare length of at least 20 one of the optical fibers or tubes of the cable 64 in the compartment 5. Having the locations “IN” and OUT” near the bottom parts 4a, 4b of the junction box 2 facilitates feeding optical fibers in and out of the compartment 5 without crossing other fibers. The remainder of the optical fibers of the incoming cable 64 is spliced (connected to optical fibers of other cables 64) in the junction box 2.

25 Figure 2 further shows cables 64 at locations 1-6 of the slot 41 of the cable bushing mounting assembly 8. These cables 64 are outgoing cables (i.e. their optical fibers are connected to a destination device), and may each e.g. contain one tube 92 with two optical fibers. Cam elements 94 are provided which comprise clamping arms 96 for clamping the cam element 94 on the side wall 6 of the junction box 2, and teeth 98. The tubes 92, or 30 individual optical fibers contained in the tubes 92, may be sorted and neatly placed in preparation of a splicing operation by using a cam element 94. Figure 2 shows four tubes 92 from cables 64 with bushing elements 60 located at locations numbered 1-4 of the cable bushing mounting assembly 8, the tubes 92 being arranged in a first cam element 94 having four slots defined between the teeth 98 thereof, and two tubes 92 from cables 64 with bushing 35 elements 60 located at locations numbered 5, 6 of the cable bushing mounting assembly 8, the latter tubes 92 being arranged in two slots of a second cam element 94. Usually, the tubes 92 and the optical fibers contained in them are cut to a (spare) length of some dm and -9- about 1.5 m, respectively. Ends of the optical fibers of the tubes 92 belonging to outgoing cables 64 are to be connected to ends of optical fibers of the incoming cable 64 (not shown in Figure 2).

As shown in Figure 3, the tubes 92 are arranged in a first slot of the guide assembly 5 18, and from there twelve individual optical fibers, possibly provided with a protective enclosure, are arranged in a further cam element 94 preferably having sufficient slots, defined by teeth 98, to accommodate all twelve optical fibers coming from the tubes 92 in the first slot of the guide assembly 18, and belonging to outgoing cables 64 having bushing elements 60 located at locations numbered 1-6 of slot 41 of the cable bushing mounting assembly 8.

10 Using the cam elements 94 will retain a predetermined order amongst different tubes 92 or different optical fibers prior to, and during connection operations between ends of optical fibers. This prevents or greatly reduces any errors in the connection operations.

As shown in Figure 4 (where the incoming and outgoing cable 64 having a window cut is shown, but where other outgoing cables are left out for clarity), four tubes 92 of the 15 incoming cable are guided in a guide slot defined by two plates 100. In the guide slot, four lock elements 102 extend, two from each plate 100 at a free top edge thereof. Like the lock elements 22 of the plates 20, each lock element 100 has a free end positioned at a distance from an opposing plate 100. The distance is sufficient to allow a tube 92 to pass. Each tube 92 of the incoming cable 64 may contain e.g. twelve optical fibers. The tubes 92 may be 20 arranged in a predetermined order in a cam element 94 clamped on the side wall 6 of the junction box 2. Other tubes 92 containing optical fibers which are not to be connected to other optical fibers in the junction box 2, are led through the channel 7 into the compartment 5.

As shown in Figure 5, after having made connections between optical fibers, the connections (splices) and spare lengths of optical fibers are stored in cassettes 110 in a 25 manner described in detail in co-pending Dutch patent application 20001965. Figure 5 shows eight cassettes 110. One cassette 110 may contain twelve splices of which the outgoing optical fibers are part of six cables 64 (two optical fibers per cable 64) having bushing elements 60 located at locations numbered 1-6 of cable bushing mounting assembly 8. It will be clear that the other cassettes 110 each may contain twelve splices of which the outgoing 30 optical fibers are part of six outgoing cables 64 (two optical fibers per cable 64) having bushing elements 60 located at locations numbered 7-12,13-18,19-24,25-30, 31-36, 37-42, and 43-48, respectively. Thus, in total a maximum of ninety-six optical fibers of one incoming cable 64 may be connected to an equal number of optical fibers of forty-eight outgoing cables 64.

35 Of course, depending on the design of the cable bushing mounting assembly and the specific splicing needs, other numbers of incoming and outgoing cables may be spliced in the junction box 2.

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Figures 6c, 6d and 6e illustrate different positions of a bushing element 60 in a slot defined by two adjoining legs 40. Figure 6c illustrates an average position in which there is some play between the beveled ends 60g of the bushing element 60 and the beveled edges of the slot. Figures 6d and 6e illustrate a retaining function of the beveled ends 60g of the 5 bushing elements 60, by preventing more than a predetermined longitudinal displacement of the bushing element 60 in case of e.g. a tensile force in the cable 64 in the direction of the arrow shown in each of the Figures 6d and 6e, due to friction forces generated by compression of the bushing element 60 in a slot formed by legs.

Figure 7a illustrates a bushing element 120 having a rectangular, in particular square 10 cross-section, a central channel 122, and being provided with a longitudinal cut 124. As shown in Figure 7b, when the bushing element 120 is made from a flexible, resilient material, the bushing element 120 can be opened at the cut 124 to place a cable (not shown) in the channel 122 (or, equivalently, to place the bushing element 120 on a cable) at an arbitrary location when seen in a longitudinal direction of the cable.

15 Figure 7c shows an alternative bushing element construction to provide a similar cable mounting function as the bushing element 120 of Figures 7a, 7b. According to Figure 7c, a bushing element 130 having a first bushing element part 132, and two second bushing element parts 134 is provided. The second bushing element parts 134 are hingedly connected to the first bushing element part 132 by film hinges, and the bushing element 130 20 can thus be opened and closed to mount it on a cable.

Figure 7d shows an alternative bushing element construction to provide a similar cable mounting function as the bushing elements of Figures 7a, 7b, 7c. According to Figure 7d, a bushing element 140 having a first bushing element part 142, and a second bushing element part 144 is provided. The second bushing element part 144 is hingedly connected to the first 25 bushing element part 142 by a film hinge, and the bushing element 140 thus can be opened and closed to mount it on a cable.

It is to be noted that also the bushing element 60 may be designed with one or more film hinges according to the teaching of Figures 7c, 7d.

Figure 8 illustrates different bushing elements and corresponding cable bushing 30 mounting assembly slots, which may each be used separately in different cable bushing mounting assemblies, or may be used in any combination in one cable bushing mounting assembly. At the left-hand side of Figure 8, a stack of bushing elements 150 is shown having a curved top and bottom wall, and flat side walls. Each bushing element 150 has one channel 151 for accommodating a cable. At the middle of Figure 8, a stack of bushing elements 152 is 35 shown having folded top and bottom walls, and flat side walls. Each bushing element 152 has one channel 153 for accommodating a cable. At the right-hand side of Figure 8, a stack of -11 - bushing elements 154 is shown having flat top, bottom and side walls. Each bushing element 154 has two channels 156 each for accommodating one cable.

Figure 9 illustrates different bushing elements mounted on cables 64, and placed in correspondingly designed cable bushing mounting assembly slots. A longitudinal cut in the 5 bushing elements is indicated with 160. At A, a bushing element 162 is shown having flat side walls. At B, a bushing element 60 is shown having folded side walls with oppositely beveled ends. At C, a bushing element 164 is shown having flat, beveled side walls. At D, a bushing element 166 is shown having folded, partially oppositely beveled side walls.

Figure 10a illustrates a stack of bushing elements mounted on cables 64. The bushing 10 elements may be designed as indicated at A (bushing element 162) or C (bushing element 164) in Figure 9, and 170 indicates a bottom part of a slot of a cable bushing mounting assembly.

Figure 10b illustrates a stack of bushing elements 172 having top and bottom walls having beveled ends. The bottom part 174 of a slot of a corresponding cable bushing 15 mounting assembly is designed correspondingly.

The junction box being part of a housing according to the present invention allows for a very much structured, ordered installation of incoming and outgoing cables in a junction box of a housing for storing connections between optical fibers, thus reducing the risk of errors in splicing the optical fibers, and greatly simplifying maintenance and changes in the 20 connections between optical fibers of different cables.

Summarizing, the present invention relates to a housing for storing connections between optical fibers contained in cables has a cable bushing mounting assembly. The cable bushing mounting assembly has a plurality of slots each formed by opposite side walls of two legs being spaced apart. Each slot has a slot bottom and is open at an end thereof 25 facing away from the slot bottom. Each slot is configured to accommodate a plurality of cable bushing elements by stacking the cable bushing elements from the slot bottom. The housing has at least one cassette for accommodating a predetermined number of connections. The slot of the cable bushing mounting assembly is configured for accommodating a number of cables having a total number of fibers corresponding with the predetermined number of 30 connections of the cassette.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis 35 for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the - 12- terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

Although the present invention has been described by reference to glass fibers, it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable to plastic fibers capable of 5 transmitting radiation signals of a specific wavelength, or metal fibers capable of transmitting electrical signals, and that as a consequence, each time that the term glass fiber is used, an arbitrary fiber may be substituted therefor.

Accordingly, the present invention may be described by the following numbered clauses.

10 1. A housing for storing connections between fibers contained in cables, the housing being provided with a cable bushing mounting assembly with at least one slot formed by opposite side walls of two legs being spaced apart, the at least one slot having a slot bottom, being open at an end thereof facing away from the slot bottom, and being configured to accommodate a plurality of cable bushing elements by stacking the cable bushing 15 elements.

2. The housing of clause 1, wherein the cable bushing mounting assembly comprises a plurality of slots.

3. The housing of clause 1 or 2, further comprising at least one cassette for accommodating a predetermined number of connections, the slot of the cable bushing 20 mounting assembly being configured for accommodating a number of cables having a total number of fibers corresponding with the predetermined number of connections of the cassette.

4. The housing of clause 1 or 2, further comprising at least one cassette for accommodating a predetermined number of connections, the slot of the cable bushing 25 mounting assembly being configured for accommodating a number of cables having a total number of fibers corresponding with the predetermined number of connections of the cassette, and at least one extra cable.

5. The housing of any of the preceding clauses, further comprising a compartment for storing at least one fiber which passes the housing uninterrupted.

30 6. The housing of any of the preceding clauses, wherein a cable bushing element is elongated, wherein in the cable bushing element in its longitudinal direction at least one through channel is provided for substantially conformingly accommodating a cable, wherein the cable bushing element has an upper wall, a lower wall, a first sidewall and a second side wall, and wherein the upper wall and the lower wall, or parts thereof, run parallel to each 35 other, and the first and second side walls comprise faces adapted to run parallel to the side walls of the slot in which the cable bushing element is to be placed.

-13- 7. The housing of clause 6, wherein the cable bushing element is provided with at least one cut from the upper wall, the lower wall, the first side wall and/or the second side wall to the channel.

8. The housing of clause 6, wherein the cable bushing element is provided with at 5 least one cut from the channel to the upper wall, the lower wall, the first side wall and/or the second side wall, wherein at said wall a film joint is formed.

9. The housing of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the cable bushing element is made from a flexible, resilient material.

10. The housing of any of clauses 6-9, wherein the upper wall, the lower wall, the 10 first side wall and/or the second side wall are flat, curved or folded.

11. The housing of clause 10, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are designed in a mirrored manner relative to a center longitudinal plane of the cable bushing element.

12. The housing of any of the preceding clauses, further comprising at least a 15 series of plates for supporting and guiding fibers or assemblies thereof from the cable bushing mounting assembly to a connection location.

13. The housing of clause 12, wherein two adjacent plates define a first opening and a second opening, the first opening being directed to a slot, and the second opening being directed to connection location.

20 14. The housing of any of the preceding clauses, further comprising a removable cam element which is mountable on a side wall of the housing for arranging different fibers during an operation performed thereon.

15. A cable bushing mounting assembly for a housing of any of the preceding clauses, the cable bushing mounting assembly being provided with at least one slot formed 25 by opposite side walls of two legs being spaced apart, the at least one slot having a slot bottom, being open at an end thereof facing away from the slot bottom, and being configured to accommodate a plurality of cable bushing elements by stacking the cable bushing elements from the slot bottom.

16. A cable bushing element for a cable bushing mounting assembly of clause 15, 30 wherein the cable bushing element is elongated, wherein in the cable bushing element in its longitudinal direction at least one through channel is provided for substantially conformingly accommodating a cable, wherein the cable bushing element has an upper wall, a lower wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, and wherein the upper wall and the lower wall, or parts thereof, run parallel to each other, and the first and second side walls comprise faces 35 adapted to run parallel to the side walls of the slot in which the cable bushing element is to be placed.

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The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or 5 steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. Huis voor het opslaan van verbindingen tussen vezels deel uitmakend van kabels, welk huis is voorzien van een kabeldoorvoermontagesamenstel met ten minste een gleuf gevormd 5 door tegenover elkaar liggende zijwanden van twee op afstand van elkaar geplaatste benen, waarbij de ten minste ene gleuf een gleufbodem heeft, aan een van de gleufbodem afgekeerd einde daarvan open is, en is geconfigureerd om een aantal kabeldoorvoeren op te nemen door stapeling van de kabeldoorvoeren.A housing for storing connections between fibers forming part of cables, which housing is provided with a cable bushing assembly with at least one slot formed by opposite side walls of two spaced apart legs, the at least one slot being a has a slot bottom, is open at one end thereof remote from the slot bottom, and is configured to receive a plurality of cable entries by stacking the cable entries.

2. Huis volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het kabeldoorvoermontagesamenstel een aantal gleuven omvat.The housing of claim 1, wherein the cable conduit mounting assembly comprises a plurality of slots.

3. Huis volgens conclusie 1 of 2, verder omvattende ten minste een cassette voor het onderbrengen van een vooraf bepaald aantal verbindingen, en waarbij de gleuf van het 15 kabeldoorvoermontagesamenstel is geconfigureerd voor het opnemen van een aantal kabels met een totaal aantal vezels dat overeenstemt met het vooraf bepaalde aantal verbindingen van de cassette.3. Housing as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least a cassette for accommodating a predetermined number of connections, and wherein the slot of the cable bushing assembly is configured to receive a number of cables with a total number of fibers corresponding to the predetermined number of connections of the cassette.

4. Huis volgens conclusie 1 of 2, verder omvattende ten minste een cassette voor het 20 onderbrengen van een vooraf bepaald aantal verbindingen, en waarbij de gleuf van het kabeldoorvoermontagesamenstel is geconfigureerd voor het opnemen van een aantal kabels met een totaal aantal vezels dat overeenstemt met het vooraf bepaalde aantal verbindingen van de cassette, en ten minste een extra kabel.4. Housing as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one cassette for accommodating a predetermined number of connections, and wherein the slot of the cable bushing assembly is configured to receive a number of cables with a total number of fibers corresponding to the predetermined number of connections of the cassette, and at least one additional cable.

5. Huis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, verder omvattende een compartiment voor het opslaan van ten minste een vezel die ononderbroken door het huis wordt gevoerd.Housing according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a compartment for storing at least one fiber that is continuously fed through the housing.

6. Huis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij een kabeldoorvoer langwerpig is, waarbij in de kabeldoorvoer in een lengterichting daarvan ten minste een doorgaand 30 kanaal is verschaft voor het in hoofdzaak vormsluitend opnemen van een kabel, waarbij de kabeldoorvoer een bovenwand, een onderwand, een eerste zijwand en een tweede zijwand heeft, en waarbij de onderwand en de bovenwand, of delen daarvan, evenwijdig aan elkaar lopen, en de eerste en tweede zijwanden vlakken omvatten die evenwijdig lopen aan de zijwanden van de gleuf waarin de kabeldoorvoer is te plaatsen. 35 -16-6. Housing as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a cable bushing is elongated, wherein at least one through-channel is provided in the cable bushing in a longitudinal direction thereof for substantially form-fitting receiving of a cable, the cable bushing having an upper wall, a lower wall , has a first side wall and a second side wall, and wherein the bottom wall and the top wall, or parts thereof, run parallel to each other, and the first and second side walls comprise planes that run parallel to the side walls of the slot in which the cable bushing can be placed . 35 -16-

7. Huis volgens conclusie 6, waarbij de kabeldoorvoer is voorzien van ten minste een doorsnijding vanaf de bovenwand, de onderwand, de eerste zijwand en/of de tweede zijwand naar het kanaal.Housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cable bushing is provided with at least one cut-through from the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall and / or the second side wall to the channel.

8. Huis volgens conclusie 6, waarbij de kabeldoorvoer is voorzien van ten minste een doorsnijding vanaf het kanaal naar de bovenwand, de onderwand, de eerste zijwand en/of de tweede zijwand, waarbij bij genoemde wand een filmscharnier is gevormd.Housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cable bushing is provided with at least one intersection from the channel to the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall and / or the second side wall, wherein a film hinge is formed at said wall.

9. Huis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de kabeldoorvoer is 10 vervaardigd van een flexibel, veerkrachtig materiaal.9. Housing as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the cable bushing is made of a flexible, resilient material.

10. Huis volgens een van de conclusies 6-9, waarbij de bovenwand, de onderwand, de eerste zijwand en/of de tweede zijwand vlak, gekromd of gevouwen zijn.Housing as claimed in any of the claims 6-9, wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall and / or the second side wall are flat, curved or folded.

11. Huis volgens conclusie 10, waarbij de eerste zijwand en de tweede zijwand gespiegeld zijn vormgegeven ten opzichte van een middenlangsvlak van de kabeldoorvoer.11. Housing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are mirror-shaped with respect to a longitudinal median plane of the cable lead-through.

12. Huis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, verder omvattende ten minste een reeks platen voor het ondersteunen en geleiden van optische vezels of samenstellen daarvan 20 van het kabeldoorvoermontagesamenstel naar een plaats van verbinding.12. Housing as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising at least a series of plates for supporting and guiding optical fibers or assemblies thereof from the cable bushing assembly to a place of connection.

13. Huis volgens conclusie 12, waarbij twee naast elkaar opgestelde platen een eerste opening en een tweede opening definiëren, waarbij de eerste opening is gericht op een gleuf, en de tweede opening is gericht op een plaats van verbinding. 25The housing of claim 12, wherein two adjacent plates define a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is directed to a slot, and the second opening is directed to a place of connection. 25

14. Huis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, verder omvattende een losneembare, op een zijwand van het huis aan te brengen kamelement voor het arrangeren van verschillende vezels tijdens een daarop uitgevoerde bewerking.A housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a detachable comb element to be arranged on a side wall of the housing for arranging different fibers during an operation performed thereon.

15. Kabeldoorvoermontagesamenstel voor een huis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, welk kabeldoorvoermontagesamenstel ten minste een gleuf omvat die is gevormd door tegenover elkaar liggende zijwanden van twee op afstand van elkaar geplaatste benen, waarbij de ten minste ene gleuf een gleufbodem heeft, aan een van de gleufbodem afgekeerd einde daarvan open is, en is geconfigureerd om een aantal kabeldoorvoeren op te nemen 35 door stapeling van de kabeldoorvoeren vanaf de gleufbodem. -17-A cable duct mounting assembly for a housing according to any one of the preceding claims, which cable duct mounting assembly comprises at least one slot formed by opposite side walls of two spaced apart legs, the at least one slot having a slot bottom on one of the slot bottom remote therefrom is open, and is configured to receive a plurality of cable entries by stacking the cable entries from the slot bottom. -17-

16. Kabeldoorvoer voor een kabeldoorvoermontagesamenstel volgens conclusie 15, welke kabeldoorvoer langwerpig is, waarbij in de kabeldoorvoer in een lengterichting daarvan ten minste een doorgaand kanaal is verschaft voor het in hoofdzaak vormsluitend opnemen van een kabel, waarbij de kabeldoorvoer een bovenwand, een onderwand, een eerste zijwand en 5 een tweede zijwand heeft, en waarbij de onderwand en de bovenwand, of delen daarvan, evenwijdig aan elkaar lopen, en de eerste en tweede zijwanden vlakken omvatten die zijn bestemd om evenwijdig te lopen aan de zijwanden van de gleuf waarin de kabeldoorvoer is te plaatsen.A cable bushing for a cable bushing assembly according to claim 15, which cable bushing is elongated, wherein at least one through-channel is provided in the cable bushing in a longitudinal direction thereof for the substantially form-fitting receiving of a cable, the cable bushing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a has a first side wall and a second side wall, and wherein the bottom wall and the top wall, or parts thereof, run parallel to each other, and the first and second side walls comprise planes which are intended to run parallel to the side walls of the slot in which the cable bushing can be placed.